A chunky EMG Mark Xb

[Ahmed]

A most interesting EMG Xb just followed me home, after a 1500 mile trip to collect it from across the channel.

A Xb should have a 29.5" horn, with the horn tilted down so that it's aimed at the listener..... but not this one! It wasn't until I got it home and set it up next to my Expert Senior that I noticed something doesn't add up.

Gilbert as he's affectionately known sports a 31.5" horn, which is tilted upwards 10 degrees. The thinking is that it might have been commissioned for a large hall where the sound would be reflected back onto the listeners. Why 31.5"? perhaps because that would still comfortably fit through a standard door.

The motorboard is a later addition, with hinges at the back and two needle cups. Interestingly, there are no redundant screw holes underneath to suggest it was ever held by the usual corner screws. A lamp was added to the inside of the lid, which is seriously convenient.

The motor, a later addition too, is an electric Paillard induction motor. It runs beautifully smooth and silent, and I'm really amazed these aren't seen more often. Interestingly, that runs at 110v.

So, how does it compare to my trusty Herbert the Expert Senior? The two couldn't be any more different. This one has a seriously punchy bass and a much wider soundstage compared to the Expert as expected given the size difference. The Expert has a brighter sound, each lending itself to different types of records. Videos below:

- Fugere, Legende De La Sauge: https://youtu.be/TuV0kKZFd8w
- Hüsch, Gazing Around (Tannhäuser) : https://youtu.be/VMV7K1JO9Y8
- Blue Racketeers, Business In F: https://youtu.be/P_7HSjEKlPg
- Lew Davis, There's Company: https://youtu.be/nP1WceLPISY

You'll notice that Gilbert has for now moved onto the floor so that my listening spot is in the beam, rather than under it. I'm thinking of making a nice oak plinth for it to sit on, instead of directly on the floor.

[neilmack]

Magnificent! Congratulations on that splendid beast.

[chunnybh]

Very nice indeed. I love it!

[Orchorsol]

Absolutely amazing that another unique EMG, presumably for a special purpose or to a customer's specific requirements, has surfaced. Congratulations dear friend!

[chunnybh]

Is that an Orchorsol EMG soundbox? Sounds amazing. I would have thought the step down transformer would have caused a loud hum.

[Ahmed]

Many thanks all! To say I'm thoroughly chuffed is a serious understatement

@Chunny: The soundbox is a 2 spring EMG which was converted to Orchorsol's lifebelt system, more on it here: viewtopic.php?t=50081 . There's very minor 50hz hum from the transformer which I intend to replace with a modern one.

[chunnybh]

Is that the soundbox that came with the Xb?. It looks and sounds fabulous.

[Ahmed]

Is that the soundbox that came with the Xb?. It looks and sounds fabulous.

It's a brilliant soundbox, isn't it! I've had it for some time. The Xb's soundbox was lost to history unfortunately, but I can't really complain too much

[Watanabehi]

Congratulations!!

I don't understand why the horn is upward so much, also why the inside of the horn has so many wrinkles. Usually most of the inside of EMG horns is smooth.

Hideki

[Ahmed]

Congratulations!!

I don't understand why the horn is upward so much, also why the inside of the horn has so many wrinkles. Usually most of the inside of EMG horns is smooth.

Hideki

Many thanks Hideki!

The original owner would have commissioned it with an upward horn for a reason that's now gone with him. We can only assume it was so that the sound bounces back off the ceiling, perhaps in a large dance hall.

I was initially fearful that the wrinkling would affect sound reproduction, but that doesn't seem to be affecting it much, if at all. This is wear and tear due to the environment it lived in, rather than by design.